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Management

You’re a natural born leader. You persuade others without even realizing it. You are the president of your favorite organization, and your peers put their trust in you. Learn how to manage effectively and ethically with classes at TU like organizational behavior, accounting, human resources management and managerial studies. Then, you can use that natural talent to run a successful, revered company.

As a management major at Tiffin University, you can expect to develop the managerial problem solving and strategic thinking skills that will help you become a leader in today’s ever-evolving global economy. The management major has been developed for your “total person” – both for your growth as an individual, and for your career aspirations. The real resources and real engagement you’ll find as management major will give you the skills, talents and competencies necessary for real world results in the 21st century.

Below are just a few examples of the variety of real opportunities you’ll have as a TU student to make real connections outside of the classroom. These clubs and organizations will provide you with real advantages and real resources, all leading to your real world success!

Human Resources Management Club - The HR Club provides members with opportunities to meet Human Resource Professionals and learn more about the types of jobs available in HRM. The club engages speakers who address the world of work for the HR perspective and allows students to network with current and future HR professionals.

Hospitality & Tourism Club - The mission of the Hospitality & Tourism Club is to create awareness and educate you on the unprecedented growth rate of the hospitality industry, the diverse career opportunities available, and the current industry events impacting the global economy. Throughout the year, the club hosts Hospitality Management alumni speakers. Members also attend regional and national hospitality conventions, trade shows and expositions.

Delta Mu Delta - The Iota Epsilon chapter of Delta Mu Delta is located at Tiffin University. This is a national honor society for business.

Circle K - Circle K International is a collegiate service organization with a worldwide membership that promotes fellowship, leadership and service.

Student Government - TU’s Student Government is primarily involved in organizing the campus programming, social activities and serving as the voice and advocate for students concerning campus matters.

World Student Association (W.S.A.) - The W.S.A. is concerned with helping to foster cultural growth and diversity on our campus and providing awareness of international student concerns within the community at large.

Also available to TU students are activities of all kinds, events, and academic and other special interest organizations that include: Delta Sigma Kappa Honorary Society, Communication Club, TU TIMES (TU’s School Newspaper) and Greek Organizations, among others.

Core Curriculum of the School of Business 18 hours
Management Core 9 hours

ACC228 Managerial Accounting

CIS312 Information Systems for Managers

MGT301 Organizational Behavior

Concentration Core 21-24 hours

Total BBA hours 121

This is a sample course sequence to illustrate course offerings for this major. Consult the official Academic Bulletin for detailed registration and advising information.

Online - Offered in two 7-week terms per semester starting in January, March, May, July and August

On Campus - Offered in a 15-week semester format with a start date of January and August

Off Campus - The managerial studies concentraiton is offered in a 7-week hybrid format with start dates of January and August. Locations, include:
• Terra Community College
• Owens Community College Toledo Campus
• Cuyahoga Community College Metro Campus
• Cuyahoga Community College Corporate College West Campus

Managerial Accounting (ACC228) - This course is designed to provide information to the management student who will be charged with directing and controlling operations from within the organization. Emphasis is placed on corporation reports, statements, schedules and summaries prepared for the use of management.

Information Systems for Managers (CIS312) - Introduces the foundations of information systems and their expanding role in the business environment. The technology of information systems will be discussed as it relates to supporting the day-to-day operations of an organization, with a strong emphasis on the use of it in managerial decision-making. This is a writing intensive course.

Organizational Behavior (MGT301) - A study of the interface between the individual, the formal and the informal groups in organizational settings. Focus will be on individual growth, developing interpersonal skills and understanding group dynamics.

Bonnie S. Tiell, D.S.M.

Professor of Management

School of Business

Degrees & Certificates

M.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Sports Administration

B.S., Troy University – Physical Education N-12

Bonnie S. Tiell, D.S.M.

Bonnie Tiell, who earned her Doctor of Education degree in sports management from the United States Sports Academy (USSA), is a professor of sport management at Tiffin University. She has been widely recognized for her contributions to intercollegiate athletic administration and global sports governance. Tiell is the founder and co-director of the Olympic Academic Experience (OAE), a program through Tiffin University that offers students from around the world the opportunity for on-site study of the organization, supervision, and management of international sport venues and elite competition in an Olympic host city. She is also co-founder of a humanitarian program for underprivileged youth in Olympic host cities with two-time Olympian, Dr. Francis Dove-Edwin, who serves as co-director.

Tiell received Tiffin University’s Provost award in 2017, the highest recognition for faculty at the institution. In 2016, she was recognized as Woman of the Year in Sports by the Cleveland Chapter of Women in Sports and Events (WISE). In the same year, it was the second time she was the recipient of the Region 4 Excellence in Teaching Award from the Accreditation Council of Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Tiell also received the Donahue Service Award in 2013 from NCAA II Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference.

In 2014, Tiell was named USSA Alumnus of the Year. She currently serves as a member of the Academy’s National Faculty, a prestigious group of educators who teach international sport administration and coaching programs abroad. In 2017, Tiell participated in the Academy’s program to teach sports management to students from the Sports Authority of Thailand in Bangkok. She taught the Academy’s International Certification in Sports Management program, which prepares participants for leadership roles in sport. In 2018, she is administering a similar program for the Federation of Disabled Sports in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Tiell is also co-founder of the Women’s Leadership Symposium, a program partially financed and now administrated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Women Leaders in College Sports. The three-day program facilitates the entry, retention, and advancement of females in intercollegiate athletics.

A published scholar of almost 100 articles and manuscripts, Tiell authored a textbook for Jones & Bartlett on “Human Resources in Sports: A Managerial Approach” in 2017. The book features best practices, case studies, global spotlights and industry voices from respected executives from every facet of the sports industry. Tiell has traveled across five continents speaking and delivering sport education programs.

Tiell is spearheading a “Salute to Olympians” week in Tiffin, Ohio in 2018 which will feature a slate of activities involving Olympic athletes and coaches from multiple countries. She led a group of 17 students and scholars in the 4th Olympic Academic Experience during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil highlighted by programs at the Olympic Reunion Center, the Brazilian Sailing Federation Headquarters, and at the 8th International Sport Business Symposium which featured executives from the IOC and local organizing committees. The Salute to Olympians Week will coincide with the opening of registration for participating in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Academic Experience.

In her faculty role at Tiffin University, Tiell served as the NCAA Faculty Athletic Representative, Dean of Graduate Studies, and MBA Chair. She also taught in the Executive MBA program in Bucharest, Romania. Prior to her faculty appointment, Tiell served as Senior Woman Administrator and an assistant athletic director. She is a member of the TU Hall of Fame for her extensive coaching accolades. She has coached volleyball, softball (1993 national qualifier), and tennis (2006 national qualifier) for Tiffin University. She also coached briefly at Alfred University in New York (volleyball and track) and at Peace College in North Carolina (basketball - assistant).

Tiell she holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Troy University, a master’s degree in sports administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a doctorate in Sports Management from the USSA. She writes a monthly column for the Advertiser-Tribune focusing on economic, global, and social issues in sport. She and her husband, Greg, reside in Tiffin, OH. Their oldest daughter (Kimberly) is a sales manager in Atlanta, GA and their youngest (Katie) is a student-athlete (swimming) studying communications and emerging media while minoring in sport management at Lynn University in Boca, Raton, FL.

Teresa Miller

Associate Professor of Hospitality Management & Marketing

School of Business

Degrees & Certificates

M.S., Florida International University

M.B.A., Tiffin University

B.S., Bowling Green State University

Teresa Miller

Before joining Tiffin University in 1999, she spent 7 years with Tharaldson Enterprises, America’s largest independent hotel development and management company. Professor Miller traveled extensively opening Marriott, Hilton and Choice hotels across the country as a General Manager and Area Director. In 1997, she was chosen and awarded Tharaldson Enterprises’ Area Director of the Year.

Since joining Tiffin University, Professor Miller has been active on campus with the Hospitality Club. In the Spring 2006, she took 19 hospitality students to the Las Vegas International Hotel and Restaurant Show. She was published in the 8th and 9th edition of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. Professor Miller has served on the Board of Trustees for the Seneca County Convention and Visitors since 2003. She also remains active in the community by having her Events Management and Marketing class plan real events for organizations in the community.

Professor Miller also holds a professional certification, CHA, the Certified Hotel Administrator by the American Hotel and Lodging Association Educational Institution. Recognized worldwide, the CHA designation is the premier symbol of professional achievement for lodging executives.

James Gucker, J.D.

Assistant Professor of Business Law

School of Business

Degrees & Certificates

James Gucker, J.D.

Dr. James Gucker is an instructor of Business Law at Tiffin University and has taught graduate courses in law and ethics as an adjunct professor.

Dr. Gucker is licensed to practice Law in the state of Ohio and has been admitted to practice in the United States District Courts in the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio. Dr. Gucker has practiced law in Tiffin Ohio since 1988 and has concentrated his practice in the areas of business law, tort law, real estate and real estate planning. He was appointed by The Ohio Supreme Court as an acting Judge in the Wyandot County Municipal Court. He has been the Tiffin City Prosecutor and Assistant County Prosecutor.

The Ohio Department of Education has appointed him as a referee in teacher termination cases. He is the solicitor for the Village of Sycamore, Republic, and Marseilles. He has represented large and small corporations in Ohio. He a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Ohio Association of Justices.

Dr. Gucker also volunteers his time and legal expertise for many non-profit organizations including United Way, Seneca County Junior Fair, Tiffin Mercy Hospital, and Mohawk Community Library Foundation.

Teresa Shafer, Ph.D.

Vice President for Institutional Planning and Effectiveness

Professor of Management

School of Business

Degrees & Certificates

Ph.D., Bowling Green State University

M.A., Bowling Green State University

B.A., Ohio State University

Teresa Shafer, Ph.D.

Dr. Shafer began her academic career at The Ohio State University's Marion campus. During her tenure, she served as an Admissions and Financial Aid Officer and Public Relations Director. Upon completion of her master's degree, she joined the Shelby Insurance Company and served nearly ten years in various corporate positions including Public Relations, Sales, Marketing and Underwriting.

Dr. Shafer joined Tiffin University in 1993 as an adjunct professor. In 1996, she became the Director of the Elyria Academic Center and was instrumental in the development and implementation of the Fast Track degree completion program in Organizational Management. She joined the full-time faculty as Dean of Arts and Sciences in 1999. In 2005 she took over as Dean of Assessment and Accreditation and successfully orchestrated reaccreditation visits with the Ohio Department of Higher Education, Higher Learning Commission, European Council on Business Education and American Council of Business Schools and Programs garnering the maxirimm reaffirmations allowed by all four accreditation agencies. Dr. Shafer is considered an accreditation specialist and serves the Higher Learning Commission as a Peer Reviewer as a visiting team member and distance education reviewer. In 2011 she became Associate Dean of International Business Programs and currently serves as a Professor of Management. Dr. Shafer is also a member of the TU Graduate Faculty Senate.

As an organizational behavior scholar, Dr. Shafer's work includes research into corporate mergers and downsizing and how these activities impact human capital and efficiencies. She has published and presented her research at numerous conferences both regionally and nationally. Dr. Shafer's consulting experience is extensive as she works with both national and international companies with respect to human resource training, executive coaching, strategic planning and budgeting. She also serves the higher learning community as a pedagogical mentor to various faculty members and institutions across the nation. Dr. Shafer is a member of several professional organizations and serves on a number of local program boards.

Diego Hernandez

Assistant Professor of Management

School of Business

Degrees & Certificates

M.B.A., University of Toledo

M.H.M., Industrial University of Santander (Colombia)

B.A., Industrial University of Santander (Colombia)

Diego Hernandez

Diego Hernandez is the Program Chair of the Online and Off-Campus Bachelor Business Programs. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Toledo and a Master’s degree in Higher Management from Industrial University of Santander (Colombia, South America).

As a faculty member at Tiffin University, Hernandez teaches accounting and management online courses and Financial and management courses at the Degree Completion Program for the Off-Campus program.

Professor Hernandez enjoys teaching online so that he can reach students who may otherwise not be able to attend college or who do not have time to come to campus for all their classes.

In his leisure time, he enjoys playing and watching soccer, volleyball, basketball and tennis.

Sharon Perry-Fantini, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Management

Vice Provost for Equity, Access & Opportunity/Title IX Coordinator

School of Business

Degrees & Certificates

Ph.D., Capella University

M.B.A., Tiffin University

B.B.A., Tiffin University

Sharon Perry-Fantini, Ph.D.

Professor Perry-Fantini earned a Ph.D. in Organizational Management from Capella University. She also holds a Masters of Business Administration Degree from Tiffin University and a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Human Resource Management and Organizational Management. The British Standards Institution granted her certification as a Quality Lead Auditor for ISO 9000 in 2001. In 2000, she completed certification in Professional Human Resource Management from the University of Toledo and the Society of Human Resource Management.

She teaches courses in human resources, organizational behavior, and organizational communications. Additionally, she teaches labor relations at the community college level. Before joining the ranks of a full-time faculty member, she served as the Executive Director of Degree Completion Admissions. During her tenure, the number of students enrolled in the bachelor’s degree completion programs in business administration and criminal justice increased by 49% in two years. Additionally, geographic expansion and online delivery increased. She served several organizations in positions such as, human resources, trainer, benefits coordinator, lead auditor, radio script writer, and voice talent.

She is a member of the Terra State Community College Advisory Board. Previously, she was an executive board member of the Lorain County Urban League and a member of the Ohio Transfer Council. She has also served on Tiffin University’s Strategic Planning Committee, Portal Committee, Website Redesign Committee, and Information Technology Committee.

Her research interests include social development centered on the concept of identity by Erik Erikson, structural diversity, organizational transformation, classroom diversity, democracy outcomes, and adult learning theory. Her mission which fully fosters reflective thinking allows learners the opportunity to think about complex challenges or issues from different perspectives.

Thomas Debbink, Ph.D.

Professor of Management

School of Business

Degrees & Certificates

B.A., Albion College

M.S., Kettering University

Ph.D., University of Cincinnati

Thomas Debbink, Ph.D.

As do most of his colleagues, Dr. Debbink has a thorough grounding in his topic, both academically and professionally. Prior to beginning his doctoral education in 1992, Dr. Debbink worked for General Motors for 13 years. His experience was largely in Manufacturing and Quality Engineering, but also included significant assignments in Salaried Personnel Administration and Purchasing. As a Certified Quality Engineer, Dr. Debbink worked with over 100 of the Division’s suppliers to remedy specific quality issues and improve the overall performance of their manufacturing systems. Dr. Debbink has also served as a consultant to NCR Corporation, the United States Navy and General Motors.

Academically, Dr. Debbink’s interests are in corporate governance, deception within organizations, and make-buy decision making. His dissertation explored the motivations behind the decision to outsource components in the auto industry. He is a member of the Academy of Management and has presented papers at numerous conferences. Dr. Debbink teaches Strategic Management undergraduate and graduate courses in Tiffin, and graduate courses in the school’s EMBA curriculum in Bucharest, Romania.

Off campus, Dr. Debbink is a twenty-plus year member of Rotary International and serves on the Board of the Foundation of the Tiffin Rotary Club. He is a licensed pilot who enjoys introducing his students to the joys of flying. He and his wife, also a teacher, live on Catawba Island where they enjoy sailing and oenology.

Kristina Collins

Assistant Professor of Management

School of Business

Degrees & Certificates

M.S. Ed., Indiana University

B.A., Indiana University

A.A.S., Purdue University

Kristina Collins

Professor Collins holds dual roles as School of Business Director and also as Assistant Professor of Management at Tiffin University, with teaching concentrations in Supply Chain Management and Human Resource Management. Her previous 17 years of university teaching were primarily in Indiana. She has also coordinated and led International Study trips for both undergraduate and graduate students to Russia, Europe, China, and Central America.

Her experience as an Administrative Director at the university level has focused in the areas of Organizational Development & Training, Curriculum Development, and Academic Outcomes Assessment. She is currently completing her PhD in Business Administration with her doctoral research focusing on economic development and global leadership.

Professor Collins serves as President-elect of ACBSP’s (Accreditation Council of Business Schools & Programs) Great Lakes Council Region 4, as well as an ACBSP Peer Evaluator, since 2013. To contribute to the body of research for quality and continuous improvement in higher education, she has presented at several ACBSP conferences, most recently in Athens, Greece and Philadelphia, PA.

As a consultant and practitioner, she also has earned a Six Sigma Green Belt which is utilized in working with organizations to develop and implement continuous improvement programs. Professional certifications include Achieve Global and Covey programs. Her professional awards include the Presidential Award for Outstanding Evening Division Faculty of the Year (2002) as well as the Sam M. Walton Free Enterprise Fellow Award as the SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) faculty advisor (2006-2008).

Testimonials

"Tiffin University is the college that has helped me grow into the person that I am today. While at Tiffin, I have made unforgettable memories and friends. I continued my education at The University of Toledo College of Law. Although I am moving on, I will never forget everything I have gained from my time at Tiffin University."

– Jessica Paule, Class of 2015

"Tiffin University was my top choice when searching for colleges. I knew with nationally recognized Criminal Justice Programs, I would receive the best education for my future career goals. Because my undergraduate experience was so positive and rewarding, I have pursued my Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice at TU working as a graduate assistant for First-Year Programs. As a GA, I have been able to give back to an institution that has given so much to me and my fellow classmates. Go Dragons!”

– Sean M. Durocher, Class of 2015

I could not have asked for better faculty. I love how small the class sizes are because I really know the majority of my professors pretty well. More importantly, they know me really well and are aware of my future goals and aspirations. I know that I could seek help from any one of my mentors and they would give me the best advice that they had.

-Beata Krembuszewski '17

"I chose Tiffin University because of the curriculum, the online opportunities, and the fact that it is a brick-and-mortar school close to my home. I made many invaluable contacts through my TU experience."

– John Carpenter

"TU gave me the extra boost needed to move forward with accomplishing my dream of becoming a small business owner. With the help and encouragement of my professors and coach, I was able to take that leap into the business world knowing I could not succeed if I did not take risks."